Most Common Questions
Frequently asked questions about staying at Camp Nakanawa.
General Questions
Nakanawa is located in the community of Mayland which is 13 miles northwest of Crossville, Tennessee. Crossville is 100 miles east of Nashville, 80 miles west of Knoxville, and 100 miles north of Chattanooga. Interstate 40 provides easy access to the camp from the east or west and Hwy. 70 N. from the north and south.
Nakanawa is a traditional, structured camp designed to give enjoyment to young ladies age 8 to 17 through a varied program of sports and activities to help girls acquire skill and expertise, thereby broadening their interests and helping them become better poised and prepared for what life has to offer. We teach genuine companionship, an art calling for courtesy, patience, and consideration. We develop character and a spirit of unselfishness through the demands of good sportsmanship and group adjustments in a fun-filled environment.
We have family style meals with 8 campers and two counselors at each table. The counselors serve the food, and we stress good table manners as well as good posture. The meal times are 7:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.
Church is held each Sunday morning. It is a non-denominational service centered around subjects important to the camp environment: getting along with others, sharing, good sportsmanship, and enjoying the beauty of nature. Catholic Mass is 2 p.m. on Sunday.Â
The Amazons are mythological warriors that rode in twos into battle and were excellent archers. The Valkyries are mythological maidens that rode in threes on black horses into battle. These two teams were established the very first summer of Nakanawa in 1920. If a camper has a mother, sister or grandmother who has attended Nakanawa, she may be on the same team or she may choose to draw by lot on the first night of camp. Girls cannot be on the same team as an aunt or friend unless she happens to draw that same team. Although the Amazons and Valkyries have competitions each weekend, this is not the most important aspect of the teams. They have meetings each Monday night at a special rock in the woods and plan their special parties and events at these meetings. Many Amazons and Valkyries have best friends on the opposite team. It really makes no difference which team they are on because each girl quickly becomes involved with her group and feels unity there. Cabin assignments are made without considering which team a girl belongs to. The teams add a special dimension to camp and are the heart of Nakanawa.
Stationery, stamps, personal items, shampoo, flashlights, batteries and Camp Nakanawa items.
All visitors are screened through the office, and no campers are allowed to leave camp with visitors including their parents. Since most our parents do not have the opportunity to visit their daughter, we feel it is fair to not allow campers to leave for a short time or to have a meal with their parents. We do allow parents to take their daughters from one camp to another for the sake of visiting with daughters in both camps. This needs to be cleared through the office or with the Head Counselor so that we know where your daughter is at all times. There is also a night watchman in each camp who comes on duty at midnight and stays until 5:00 a.m. the next morning. He makes rounds through camp at night and locks the gates when he arrives and opens the gates when he departs. When not on rounds, he is in a location where the campers and counselors can find him in the event of an emergency. There are also two counselors on patrol in each camp every night for 2 hours after taps. Gates are locked at midnight and opened at 5:00 a.m.
Camp Structure & Enrollment
7:00 a.m. – Wakeup
7:25 a.m. – Flag Raising
7:30 a.m. – Breakfast
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. – Cabin Clean-Up
8:30 a.m. – 1st Bell
8:35 a.m. -12:40 p.m. – Activities
10:45 a.m. – Milk Break (junior) Apple Break (senior)
11:00 a.m. – Activities Resume
1:00 p.m. – Lunch
2:00 p.m. – Rest Hour
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Camp Store Opens – Free Swim
4:00 – 5:30 p.m. – Activity Classes Resume
5:30 – 6:25 p.m. – Clean Up for Supper/Free Time
6:25 p.m. – Flag Lowering
6:30 p.m. – Supper
7:35 p.m. – Mail Call, Evening Entertainment
9:00 p.m. – Taps: Junior Camp
9:30 p.m. – Taps: Intermediate & Senior Camp
Two Week campers are 8 to 14 years old or have completed grades 2nd through 8th (2nd-5th Junior camp; 6th-8th intermediate camp). Four Week Junior campers are 8 to 12 years old or have completed grades 2nd through 6th; Intermediates are 13 and 14 or have completed grades 7th through 8th; Seniors are 15 to 17 or have completed grades 9th through 11th.
Junior Camp has 100 to 135 campers, Intermediate has 60 to 100 campers, and Senior has 60 to 80 campers. The enrollment varies from year to year. Intermediate and Senior Camps are together.
As soon as possible so that we can make plans for the upcoming season. We accept applications until June or whenever we reach our capacity.
Our two-week program is an excellent introduction to camping at Nakanawa. The girls participate in activities, draw to become an Amazon or Valkyrie, have team meetings, special events, and activity meets. For the camper who has never been to Nakanawa before, or away from home for any length of time, this is a wonderful opportunity to gain confidence and independence in a caring and active atmosphere.
The four-week program is designed to build self confidence in our campers and a total feeling of independence and leadership gained from living in a different environment with girls from all over the country. The campers have to learn to live with their bunkmates and be caring and considerate. The friendships that evolve from the longer stay at camp are one of the very special rewards of Nakanawa. The girls acquire skills in the various activities and gain a feeling of accomplishment. It is a beautiful environment in which to live, work on activities and skills, and in which to play!
The counselor to camper ratio is 4 to 1 in junior camp and 6 to 1 in senior camp.
Yes, we offer a 10% discount off the total tuition for each sister.
Campers can receive reimbursements if they are a dining hall aide ($400 for four week, $200 for two week) or if they are an activity aide ($300). Usually the dining hall aides in Junior Camp are chosen from the oldest group of campers. In Intermediate and Senior Camps, the dining hall aides are various ages. Activity aides must be 16 years or older and are chosen with the approval of the activity’s head counselor and the particular need for that summer. If a camper is interested in either aideship program, she just needs to write to camp with her request.
We do grant a limited number of partial camperships for those girls in need. If interested, you need to contact the camp directly and inform us of the need. The money for this program comes from the Elisabeth Mitchell Charitable Trust that our friends and patrons of Nakanawa can contribute to on a tax deductible basis.
Activities, Special Events, Trips & Awards
The Amazons and Valkyries plan parties each summer for the other team. Each party has a theme such as “Gilligan’s Island”, “Winter Wonderland”, or “Jungle Book” and the parties are held at a special spot in the woods. Hot dogs are served at the Weenie Roast and Bar-B-Que Chicken is the main course at the Surprise Party. The evening is highlighted by a skit for entertainment, singing camp songs, singing Team songs with the Octet, and roasting marshmallows.
We take groups of girls to the Cumberland Cove overlook – 2 miles from camp, canoe trips to the dam on our lake, hikes around the lake as well as to the dam and to the opposite camps. There are trail rides, fishing trips, and a picnic lunch as well. We also explore scenic areas close to Nakanawa.
Four-week trips include hiking at Fall Creek Falls, rafting on the Hiwassee and Ocoee Rivers, caving at Cumberland Caverns, and the Caney Fork River.
There are many special recognitions and awards distributed in the junior, intermediate, and senior camps. You can view complete details for these on the camp awards and achievements page.Â
There are over 30 classes/activities available to choose from at Camp Nakanawa. You can view a complete list of available options for junior, intermediate, and senior camp on the activities page.Â
The girls that sign up for riding will have two to four lessons each week. On Free Day there may be trail rides scheduled for specific groups. The camp owns and stables 24 horses; 12 for Junior Camp and 12 for Senior Camp. The horses have various levels to challenge all our riders. A riding helmet and leather shoes with heels are required.Â
The girls receive instruction on the care and grooming of horses and tack. Campers can even help with the afternoon feeding of horses.Â
Communication, Visitation & Transportation
We do not allow campers to receive or make calls, send faxes or e-mail. However, in the event of an emergency, exceptions have been made. You can reach us at camp at 931-277-3711. International faxes are also welcome at 931-277-5552.Â
E-mail: campermail@campnakanawa.org (no pictures or attachments, name, camp, cabin # in subject line). You may also use the contact form on our website.Â
We allow international campers to send one scanned email each week.Â
You will receive a newsletter each week outlining the various activities and special events. You will hear from your daughter’s counselor once during the summer.
No, unless an emergency or medication. Please notify the office if sending anything to your daughter.
Parents and visitors are always welcome at Nakanawa. We request that you defer your visit until after the first week of both sessions. The best time to visit is during rest hour from 1:30-3:30 p.m. CST. Please visit on the Games Field away from the cabin areas where the other campers and counselors will be resting.
Parents of our two-week campers are invited to join us for the buffet, musical and awards presentation on the final Friday. Parents of our four-week campers are invited to join us for the operetta, fine arts program, buffet and trophy night on the final Saturday. Reservations are required for the buffets.
*Please note, visitation guidelines are subject to change.Â
Many of our campers fly into the Nashville airport. We meet the girls and transport them to camp (approximately 2 hours) on chartered buses chaperoned by our counselors. Likewise, chartered busses are used at the close of camp to transport campers back to the airport for the flight home. Campers that live close to Crossville arrive by car with a parent or guardian. Luggage can be shipped in advance via UPS or FEDEX. All luggage must be shipped home by FEDEX or taken with you if your child is traveling home by car. The only exception is international campers. Written permission is required if returning home with anyone other than a legal parent or guardian. Airline flights must be into/out of Nashville, Tennessee (BNA airport) and arrive/depart between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on the opening/closing day of the session.
We recommend that you ship luggage FedEx or UPS so that it will arrive one week prior to the opening date of camp. We will notify you that the luggage has arrived, and it will be placed in your daughter’s cabin. We require that luggage be shipped home via FedEx if your daughter is flying home. The only exception is international campers. Luggage shipped will be sent on Tuesday following the closing day of the session. You can expect to receive the luggage by the end of the week or sooner. Nakanawa will pay the shipping charges and bill you accordingly.
There are several places nearby for parents to stay during your visit to Camp Nakanawa. You can check them out here.Â
Personal Questions & Instances
We encourage girls to attend Nakanawa that they would like for their own daughter to be associated with. Our campers are very attuned to the attributes of a Nakanawa girl. Campers are eager to include and invite friends because they know their friends will excel and enjoy camp.
The traditions at Nakanawa make it easy for a new camper to adjust and fit in. Returning campers are eager to share the explanations of the traditions and tell our new campers all about the special events that will occur during the summer. We also pay close attention to detail with our cabin group and counselor selections. This helps to make the adjustment smoother and easier since we strive for a congenial grouping of personalities.Â
The program at Nakanawa is carefully planned so that our girls can become involved with their cabin group and classes as soon as they arrive at camp. Even the girls who come by themselves quickly find a friend and there is always a caring and concerned counselor on the lookout for any problems. Classes begin in all camps the day after the girls arrive at Nakanawa.
The schedule is full and structured, since we believe that “busy girls are happy girls”. There is just enough “free time” in each camp to give the campers a chance to relax and do some things on their own. If you do receive a letter about homesickness, your help in discerning the positive aspects of her experience will make her adjustment easier. Quickly write her letters that are cheerful and full of what you think she might be doing at camp. Letters are a wonderful help and mail call is a highlight of each camper’s day. If your daughter is exceptionally homesick, please be assured that we will call you immediately. Most homesickness disappears within a few days and it is a normal reaction to being away from home.
Please do not tell your daughter that you will come get her if she is homesick. This will be a detriment to your daughter’s adjustment to camp. Homesickness is very normal and most campers make miraculous recoveries if Nakanawa has your support.
We highly discourage leaving camp as it is disruptive both to your daughter’s experience, others in her cabin, and the camp in general. If it is absolutely necessary, we do allow a camper to leave and return. If the leave requires a special trip to the airport, an extra transportation fee of $100 per airport trip will be charged. Plans should be made prior to your daughter’s arrival.
There is a doctor on the camp premises and a nurse in each camp. If there is an emergency that cannot be handled here, we take our girls into Crossville to the Walk-In Medical Clinic during the weekdays, and to the Cumberland Medical Center on weekends and at night. It is only 14 miles from Nakanawa and both are fully staffed facilities with the Medical Center serving as a regional hospital. Parents are notified as soon as possible in the event of an emergency. You will also be contacted if your daughter spends even one night in the infirmary at camp. A copy of your insurance card (front and back) must be included with your completed Health Form. Other required information includes the Social Security Number and Date of Birth of your daughter and the insured card holder. In the event of an accident or illness requiring a trip to one of our local physicians or specialists, or the need for a prescription while at camp, our office will contact you for additional information to pay for health services. We will forward the necessary paperwork so that you can submit the claim to your insurance for reimbursement.
We find that the girls do better if they are in separate cabins. All cabins are close together and being separated gives the girls a chance to branch out and make friends with girls from other cities. There is plenty of time for visiting cabins and many girls of the same age also share classes. If there is a cabin request, it must be from both parties to be considered.
No, unless an emergency or medication. Please notify the office if sending anything to your daughter.
We use a local laundry in Cookeville, and they provide a pick up and delivery service for the camp.
In junior camp the laundry is picked up on Mondays and returned on Wednesdays.
In Senior it is picked up on Wednesdays and returned on Fridays. The fee for this laundry service is included in the camp tuition. Two-week pickup is Friday; return Saturday.